DENVER — Dallas Cowboys proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones was not happy with Sunday’s consequence, a 44-24 loss to the Denver Broncos, however the consequence is not going to form how he appears to be like to enhance the protection earlier than subsequent week’s commerce deadline.
“If I noticed a proposition for us to assist this staff, it doesn’t matter what this rating was right this moment, then I might have a look at it on the deserves of serving to the staff,” Jones mentioned. “I might utterly have a look at the deserves for each subsequent week or the weeks after [and the longer term]. No, right this moment wouldn’t have an effect on a choice on buying and selling for a participant.”
The Cowboys have gauged curiosity from groups in potential targets, in accordance with a number of sources, however haven’t discovered a center floor to get a commerce agreed upon.
And Jones does not see the Cowboys’ protection as one participant away from being aggressive.
On Sunday, the Cowboys gave up their most factors in a sport since a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 5 final yr. It was the second time this season they allowed greater than 40 factors. It was the fourth time they allowed greater than 400 yards (426). It was the fourth time an opponent had at the least 25 first downs, and the second time the Cowboys allowed 4 landing passes.
The Broncos had 179 yards dashing, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. It was the fifth time the Cowboys allowed greater than 6.2 YPC and the fifth time they gave up greater than 144 dashing yards.
“I do not know what’s reasonable,” Jones mentioned. “May one higher participant — if we did not pay too huge a value to have a greater participant on protection to probably assist? I am not making an attempt to be cute, however that is why you’d go get him since you suppose that you might go assist your protection. Are we one participant away on protection? I believe we’re not. I believe we’re greater than that away, however what we’re nearer to than it appears to be like, in my thoughts, is executing higher on protection.”
Coach Brian Schottenheimer was not placing the loss on the protection.
“Whenever you have a look at it, I am not simply going to begin with the protection,” he mentioned. “I do not suppose any of us coached and performed properly sufficient.”
Schottenheimer additionally didn’t need to speculate on whether or not the protection wants assist.
“On the finish of the day, I believe we now have adequate gamers,” Schottenheimer mentioned. “I believe we didn’t play properly tonight.”
The protection entered Sunday ranked thirty second in yards per sport and thirtieth in factors per sport. The Cowboys have given up 250 factors, the third most in staff historical past via the primary eight video games of a season. In 1960, the primary yr of the franchise, the Cowboys allowed 272 factors within the first eight video games and completed 0-11-1. In 2020, the Cowboys allowed 266 on their approach to a 6-10 end.
Towards the Broncos, the Cowboys have been with out their prime three safeties — Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson and Juanyeh Thomas — as a consequence of damage. The staff misplaced Alijah Clark to a rib damage within the second half and changed him with cornerback Reddy Steward. Along with throwing 4 landing passes, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was not sacked.
“I do not see lack of effort,” Jones mentioned. “I see guys that may very well be surer, extra agency of their execution.”
In 2018, the Cowboys have been 3-4 after a 20-17 loss to Washington. A day later they traded a first-round decide to the Raiders for broad receiver Amari Cooper and received seven of their last 9 video games to say the NFC East.
Quarterback Dak Prescott was requested if the Cowboys want a commerce like that to jump-start the season.
“I belief and I like the fellows that we now have,” Prescott mentioned. “Actually l do. And that is not only a political reply. You see a few of these video games we have received and truthfully even the tie [against Green Bay] and among the video games we have misplaced … our roster is OK. Can or not it’s higher? That is for you guys to jot down about and to guage.
“I belief these guys. We have got to be higher in every thing that we do. Getting a commerce takes alternatives and performs away from any individual else, and so I simply echo … to the fellows within the locker room … overlook the commerce. Do extra. Proper? Like shut that discuss up whether or not or not it’s offense, whether or not or not it’s protection, no matter place group that you just guys are alluding to, step up and shut the discuss up.”